Chapter 3

Niharika's POV

Reaching home at around seven in the evening, I freshened up and came in the lobby to find Sapna who had already set up the dinner table. Sapna is indeed a hard working lady. After the death of her husband, she began working here. For last two years, she has proven to be a good friend. She handles a bit of my work in the study and takes care of my house.

I had my dinner and I went to my study. I had to review the marketing strategy of our products. Though I have trustworthy employees around me, I still check each and every detail of my company.

I remembered my mother used to emphasize over knowing each and every detail of the work one is doing.

Thinking of my mother, a tear crept from my eye.

I felt devastated and lonely. I wish she were with me. She would have been proud of me.

However, life is never the same. I began visualizing the unfortunate day when I lost my parents.

*****

Fifteen years ago

Dad and mom inaugurated their new cosmetic range. My dad was a Chartered Accountant while my mother was a Corporate Lawyer. They both had met while working for Oriflame and had fallen in love. They both dreamt to start a cosmetic brand after their marriage. It was their 20th marriage anniversary when their dream was fulfilled.

We enjoyed the inauguration party thoroughly. The faces of my parents were glowing out of happiness and love. They were true inspiration for me, both in professional and personal life.

Around 9pm that day, I sneaked out of the party after informing my dad. I was never a party person. I just came home and sat in the study, the same study where I am today.

I had been reading my favorite novel, when the landline rang. It was around 11pm as I checked the clock. It was then, I wondered that my parents weren't back yet. I picked up the receiver and after the conversation my world had come crashing down.

The call was from the government hospital and my parents died in a car accident.

I was hysterical for the moment and I rushed to see them hoping that mum or dad would get up to see me but it never happened.

Since then life is never easy.

*****

Coming out of the trance, I realized the void of my parents and went to my room to sleep. Life indeed, seemed to be hollow and lonely without parents. The responsibilities and sorrow had increased after them. I had tasted the bitter taste of life. I was saddened to the core, missing my parents and remembering the days when I used to get up and fight against my instincts to end my life. Mr. Bose, my dad's friend, had always motivated me to stand up against the ups and downs of life. He used to motivate me to live for my parent's dream and soon the company became my obsession.

I had joined the college after the death of my parents. I was utterly depressed when Arpit brought light in my world of darkness. He was the first and the only one in the college who knew about my parents.